On-Demand Youth Leadership Program: Vietnam
The On-Demand Youth Leadership Program (ODYLP): Vietnam is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). It brings together a group of 14 youth participants (ages 15-18) and two adult mentors (ages 25 and older) from Vietnam for a three-week, U.S.-based exchange focused on youth leadership, cultural exchange, and volunteerism.
This is a unique opportunity for high school students!
ODYLP: Vietnam provides opportunities to:
- Serve as youth leaders representing Vietnam in a unique cultural exchange
- Develop cross-cultural dialogue skills through engagement with new friends in the U.S.
- Explore and address global challenges, such as climate change, disaster relief, and community resilience
- Design and implement community-based projects focused on youth volunteerism
The program is 20 days in length, with 15 days in a host community (such as Denver, Seattle, or Kansas City) and 5 days in Washington DC.
PROGRAM DATES: JUNE 20 - JULY 9, 2025
Program Details
Part 1: IN-PERSON EXCHANGE
Days 1-2: Arrive in the United States with a program orientation in the host community.
Days 3-15: Experience a vibrant cultural exchange with site visits, workshops, guest speakers, and cultural events. Interact with U.S. and Vietnamese peers to enhance your understanding of U.S.-Vietnam relations and participate in workshops that develop cross-cultural dialogue skills. Collaborate with local organizations focused on youth leadership, volunteerism, climate change, disaster relief, and community resilience. Immerse yourself in American culture by staying with a U.S. host family, fostering lasting connections and future collaborations between U.S. and Vietnamese youth.
Days 15-20: Travel to Washington D.C., the capital of the United States. Visit the U.S Department of State and engage in cultural and recreational activities.
Part 2: SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES
After your U.S. experience, you’ll have the opportunity to share your journey and apply your new cultural, dialogue, and leadership skills through a community-based project. This could involve educating peers on U.S. culture or global citizenship or organizing a local volunteer initiative focused on raising awareness about climate change or disaster relief efforts.
APPLICATION DETAILS
Fourteen (14) students from Vietnam will be competitively selected to participate. Applications will be accepted between December 13, 2024 to February 5, 2025. Semifinalists will be selected for interviews, and then final notifications will be made in late March.
Is there a cost? There is NO application fee. The United States Government will pay for all travel to and from the United States, and all program-related costs for selected participants.
IMPORTANT NOTE - This program is only open to current students attending gifted high schools in the following provinces: Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, and Quang Nam. Applications from other schools and provinces will not be considered.
The On-Demand Youth Leadership Program (ODYLP) is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), administered by Legacy International.
Legacy International Programs:
